Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu has been embroiled in a controversy after a speech he gave was published under the title 'Tamizhai Aandal' in Dinamani.

Despite Vairamuthu expressing regret over his comments on Andal, a seventh century mystic and an Alvar saint, protests against him continue in Tamil Nadu.

What the controversy is all about

In his speech, Vairamuthu had said, "In ‘Indian movement: Some aspects of dissent, protest and reform’, written by Subhash Chandra Malik from America’s Indiana University, there is a line: Andal herself is a Devadasi who lived and died in the Sri Rangam Temple."

“While devotees will not accept this, but those who oppose patriarchy, and those who are against an unequal society, will ponder this,” he further said.

Latest developments

1. Members of the Hindu Munnani protested outside Vairamuthu’s house on Saturday. Protesters claimed that the lyricist expressing regret was not enough. Police arrested the protesters.

2. The Rajapalayam South Police registered a case against Vairamuthu in Virudhunagar on Saturday. The case was filed on the basis of a complaint filed by Hindu Munnani town secretary Suri. The case has been filed under IPC Sections 153 A (promoting enmity, wanton vilification upon religion), 295 A (deliberate, malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 505 (2) committing offence in any place of worship.

3. DMK working President MK Stalin condemned the protests. “We don’t encourage anyone speaking ill of any religion. In this case, Vairamuthu has regretted, even the newspaper has apologized. But someone people are politicizing it further, that is not right. I condemn it.

4. CPI(M) Central Committee member G Ramakrishnan condemned BJP’s H Raja for the abusive language he used against Vairamuthu. He also asked why the state was not taking action against H Raja for his remarks inciting violence.

5. Priests and pro-Hindu outfits staged a rally in Srirangam near Trichy on Friday. They demanded that Vairamuthu should be deported from the country.

6. An ultimatum has been issued to Vairamuthu by the seer of Manavala Mamunigal Mutt, Satakopa Ramanuja Swamigal. The seer has said that if Vairamuthu does not apologise at Andal Temple before Wednesday, he will embark on a hunger strike.

7. BJP state President Tamilisai Soundarajan has said that people like Vairamuthu who were prepared to hurt the sentiments of Hindus, should also be ready to face the consequences.